Gearshift locking device



Nov. 195 1946. w. H. MuLLlNs ETAL GEAR SHIFT LOCKING DVICE Filed June 8, 1945 3 Smeets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS v evry Mw Nov. 19,` 1946. w. H. MuLLlNs ETAL GEAR SHIFT LOCKING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Shea?.- 2 l Filed June 8; :1945

mVENToRs ZZz'ns 5g en??? a@ WHM@ Nov. 19, 1946. w. H. MULLlNs ETAL 2,411,455

GEAR SHIFT LOCKING DEVICE Filed June 8, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR",

WHMuZZZ'Z .5y 'WMG'enrg Patented Nov. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES PATE GARSHIFT LOCKIN G DEVICE l William H. Mullins ana William M. Gentry,

b SouthBoston, Va.

Application June 8, 1945, Serial'No.` 598,306

` 1ov claims. (o1. 19e-4) This invention relates to a safety lock for vehicle transmissions.

- An object of this invention is to provide in combination with a vehicle gear shifting structure, means operable by movement of the hand brake to braking position for locking the gear shifting structure in any selected position so that the operatorof the vehicle will not be able to change the gears untilthe hand brake has been released.

Another Aobject of this invention is to provide a safety lock for the gear shift mechanism oa Vehicle which willautomatically lock the gear shift mechanism so that the driverof the vehicle will be unable to properly operate the vehicle until the hand brake has been released.

j In the operation of a vehicle it is not infrequent that the driver forgets to release the hand brake and if the latter is not set hard the vehicle may be operated with the hand brake set, resultingin undue wear or damage to the hand brake or other parts, The present invention provides a means whereby the gear shifting mechanism may be locked in either neutral or any engaged gear position so that the driver, in order to eiciently operate the vehicle, will be required to release the hand brake. V

A further object of this invention is to provide a gear shift lock of this kind which maybe made" as an attachment for various types of vehicles.` This invention consists of the novelconstruction; combination and arrangement of parts as will be more speccally referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein` is shown an embodiment of the invention, blutit isj'tobe understood that changes, variations andrnodications may be resorted to `which fall scope ofl the invention as claimed."

In the drawings: Y y 'y j Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation," partly in vertical section of a vehicleyhavin'g a trans-f mission lock mounted thereon constructed according` to an embodiment of this inventiornf Figure 2 is av detailedV side elevationpartly broken'away Aandin section similar to Figure l but showing the opposite side of the device,

Figure 3 is a 'sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is la-fragmentary sectional `view taken on theline 4 4 of Figure 3, l

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5`5 of Figure 1,- L i Figure 6 is a Vfragmentary sectional `view of the device taken on the line B-Bof Figure 1,7`showing the ,gear shifting-rod in neutral postionfwithf the locking -bolt'diserigaged therefrom, 5"

within the Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the keeper in a lateral position with respect to the locking bolt, l Figure 8 is a sectional view similar tol Figure 7 but showing the keeper in an opposite lateral position,

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional View of the gear 'shifting rod having al modified Vformof keeper mounted thereon,

Figure 10 is a detailed side elevation of the keeper shown in Figure 9,

-Figu-re 11 is a detailed side elevation partly broken away of a modified form of connector between the hand brake operator and the bolt lock operator,

Figure 12 is a sectional lE-IZ of Figure 11. Y

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l5 designates generally a vehiclebody including a dashboard I6 andan instrument board which "s spaced from the dashboard I6. A steering column I8 extends downwardly through theY dashboard l5 and is connected in the conventional manner to the steering mechanism,` A ,gear shifting` rod I9 is disposed in spaced parallel relation with respect to the steering column I8 and has a handle or operator 20 mounted on the upper or rear end thereof. The rod I9 is connected to the transmission and is adapted to have both endwise and rotary movement in the normal manner to eiTect a gear change in the transmission. The vehicle body i 5 also includes a hand brake` or lever operator 2| carried by a hanger 22.` It will be understood that the operator 2| may also include a pawl and ratchet means (not shown) for releasably holding the lever or operator 2| in selecte-d operative braking position or inoperative position. 'Ihe lever 2| has connected thereto a U-shaped member 23 which has the parallel arms thereof pivotally mounted on a bolt 24, extendingthrough the lever 2|. A stem 25 extends from the bight 25 of the U-shaped member 23 and has secured thereto the rear end of a hand brake adjusting rod 21. The rod 2T is ofqexibleconstruction, extending through a sheath 28 which is supported bya hanger 29.

` In order to provide a means whereby the oper-` ator of the vehicle will be unable to effect a gear change in the event the hand brake lever 2| is in braking position, we have provided an attachment which is mounted on the steering column I8 and View taken on the line operatively associated with the gear shift rod I9 and the brake lever 2 I. This attachment includes a housing generally designated as 30 which is x-` edly mounted on the steering column |8..` The gages one of.

housing 36 includes a pair of plates 3| and 32 which are secured together by fastening members 33.

The plates 3| and 32 are provided with cutouts 34 and 35 respectively, within which thegear shifting rod I9 is adapted to loosely engage. The plates 3| and 32 are also formed with complementary cutouts 33 and 31 respectively, within which the steeringcolumnv lmengages. A clamping or spacer` block38 is interposed between the lower ends of the plates 3|l and 32 and a pair of clamping bolts 39 engage through the plates 3| and 32, so as to tightly clamp the housing 30 with respect to the steering cloumn I8. The plates 3| and 32 are each formed withextensions 40 and 4| respectively, which are formed in. their., inner confronting sides with longitudinal recesses 42 and 43, forming a guide channel within which the head 44 of a lock bolt generally designated as 45 is adapted to slidably engage.

The locking bolt 45 also includes a laterally projecting bolt` member 46 which extends laterally of the extensions 46 andV 4I through a lateral slot 41 formedrin the adjacent portions of the extensionsv 4|)l and 4|, A bolt orr pin 48 is extended transversely through the head or slide member 44, being tightly secured with respect to the head or slide member 44 by means of a pair of locknuts 49. An upper bolt 56 is extended transversely through the. extensions 46 and 4I, being firmly locked by locking members A pair of springs. 52 are disposed on the outside of thel extensions 40 and 4|., being secured at their upper or outer ends to the adjacent ends of the bolt 56 and secured at their inner ends to the bolt or pin 48.

The springs 52A provide a mean whereby bolt 45 will be normally urged to van upper released position. In order to provide for movement of bolt 45. to .an inner locking position, IV have provided a flexible connector 53. The connector 53' is extended through a sheath 54 which is held in spaced relation to thelsheath 28 by means of a supporting strap 6|.

The strap 55,v as shown in Figure 5, is provided with av reverted end 56 engaging about the stem and tightly' secured with respect thereto by means ofA a clamping bolt .51. The opposite end of thestrap 55 is bent as at 58, reyersely from the bent Aportion 56, engagingv about the flexible member 53 and tightly secured with respect thereto by means of Va clamping bolt 59. .A pair of' adjusting nuts 6|!V are'threadedon to the flexible member 53 and engage on opposite. edges of the reverted clamping. member 58 so that the coni necting member 5.5. may be endwise adjusted.. A. second supporting strap 6|, similar to the strap 55, is secured at one end .about the sheath 28 and at the lother end about the sheath 54, for sup'- porting the sheath 54' in spaced. relation with respect tothe sheath 28 and for providing for the movement of the extended portion of the flexible member 53 in parallel relation with re.- speci'.v to. the brake .adjusting `member 21. Y

The opposite end of the sheath A5.4 is. tightly secured with respect to thehousing 3|!` .by means of. a. strap or. clamping member 62., which .en-

the. .fastening members. 33,Y andI preferably the .clampingmember 62 is positioned on the .loweror forward edge cf thehousingl36. The flexible member53 extends4 outwardly .and downwardly from the lower end ofthe sheath 5.4. A. .rocklever 63 is pivoted between the. ends, thereof on-a bolt39,.and one end of the lever .63 hassecured thereto one end of. a link .54. The

opposite end of the link 64 is secured to the pin or bolt 48. A spring 65 interposed between exible member 53 and rock lever 63 provides a cushioning means and a bolt tensioning means whereby the sliding movement of the bolt 45 may be less than the rocking movement of the lever 63 in order that the brake operating lever 2| may be rocked to full braking position without being retarded by the sliding movement of the transmission locking bolt 45". Thepinor bolt 48 extends loosely through a pair of elongated slots 6.6 and 61 which are formed inthe extensions 46 and 4| respectively.

A keeper generally designated as 68 is fixedly secured tothe gear shifting rod i9 in a position for. engagement with the bolt 45. The keeper 68, as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, is formed of a strap .16 whichisbent upon itself and secured to the gear shifting rod I9 by means of a pin 1I. A clamping bolt 12 is extended through the open ends of the strap 10 adjacent the rod I9 so as to provide a pair of spaced apart arms13. The arms 13 are held in spaced apartV relation by means o'f a spacer 14 and a bolt 1:5, extending. through the arms 13 and the spacer 14. The. space between the arms 13 is sufficient to admit the bolt member 46, engaging therebetween when the gear shifting rod is'in neutral position. In Figure 6 the bolt member 46 risinV released .position and is therefore spaced from'the ends of the keeper arms13 so that the gear Vshifting, rod I6 may be rocked to any selected gear position.

Referring now to Figure 1,the keeper 68 is .disposed in a lateral position to `theright of the bolt. memberl 46 with the latterin locking position.. In locking position the bolt member 46 is disposed in the path of. the swinging of the keeper 68 so that this keeper cannot be swung to the left, as viewed inligure 7, to effect .a different gear engagement until the hand brake lever. 2| has been moved to a brake releasing position. In Figure '1 the keeper 68 is disposed to the left of. the bolt 46 and the latter is in a locking position so that the gear shifting rod I9 cannot be rotatedV clockwise to effect a different gear change until the hand brake lever 2| is released.

Referring now. to Figures 9 and 10, thereis. disclosed a modified form of keeper which isfconstructed in theform of van elongated bar 16., 4having a .fork 11 at .its inner end` within which the gear shifting. rod I9 is. adaptedfto engage. A clamping bolt 16 extendsthrough the. arms 11 and the rod. L9. so as Yto hold theV bar16 against movement with respect to theY rodi!!` The, bar 16A is vvformed at its outer endwithakeeper recess. 19 within which .the boltmember 46 is-adaptedfto, engage when the latteris in .locking position. It will be understood 'that the bolt-structure and operative Ymeans therefor, hereinbefore described, will be associated with the keeper `in Figures ,9: and V10. Y

Referring now to .Figuresll and` 12, .there disclosed va modified form of connection between the brake adjusting. member .21 .and the bolt operating .member 53. nIihe. brake adjusting lever` v 2| has pivotally.securedftheretoa .Urshapedemcmber 23a which is mounted on a bolt 24a, extend..- ing through the-lever 2l. The Uf-shaped member 23a has a stem 25a extendingfrom .the bight26af. thereof, and thefstem 25a has fixedly secured thereto and extending at right angles. .t'her-.efronrY a bar 80. lThe bar isformedwth an opening 8|A within which theadjacentfend of the.,bolt-op.-` Y erating member 5.3 isadaptedtoyerlgageand-.nutsj 66 which are threaded` on the operating memberl 53 engage on opposite sides of the bar 8@ so as to tightly secure the bolt operating member 53 in adjusting position with respect to the bar 8E).

In the use and operation of this device, the housing 3B is tightly clamped on the steering column i8, the gear shifting rod I9 loosely engaging therethrough. The flexible bolt operating member 53` is fixed relative to the hand lever 2| by the strap 55. The keeper 68 is tightly clamped on the gear shifting rod i9 in a position whereby the rod I9 may have normal endwise movement for effecting gear change, and the bolt member 65 is of suiiicient length that it will be disposed in a locking position with respect to the keeper E8 in any endwise position of the rod It. During the normal operation of the vehicle. the hand brake lever 2i will be disposed in released position which is the position shown in Figure l. In the released position of the brake lever 2l, the bolt member will be held in its uppermost released 1:losition by the springs 52. When the brake lever 2i is rocked to braking position, clamping member 55 will be moved to the left as viewed in Figure l, and endwise movement of member 55 will also eifect endwise movement of bolt operating member 5.3 in the same direction. As bolt operating member E53 is moved to the left, rock lever B3 will be rocked upwardly at its outer end and the opposite end of lever 63 will be rocked downwardly thereby pulling bolt member 46 downwardly to locking position. The spring 65 will provide a tensioning means for tensioning the bolt 45 in its locked position.

Assuming that gear shifting rod I9 is in neutral position. keeper 68 will be positioned with the arms 13 thereof confronting the bolt member 46 so that when lever 2| is pulled to a braking position, bolt member 46 will he moved downwardlv between keeper arms 73. It will be obvious therefore that when the driver of the vehicle attempts to effect a Igear change without releasing the hand brake. the gear change cannot be effected as rod I9 is held against rocking movement by means of the locked position of bolt member Q6. When hand brake lever `i?! is moved forwardly to released position. springs 52 will pull bolt member i5 upwardly and forwardly to keeper disengaging position, thereafter gear shifting rod I9 may be rocked to any selected position. In the event the gear shifting rod I9 is in a position Where the gears of the transmission are engaged, the keeper 68 will be disposed in either of the positions shown in Figures '7 and 8. In these engaging positions of the rod i9. the keeper S8 will be disposed laterally of the bolt member l-i'. In effecting change of gears from the engaged position. it is necessary to rock the rod le in the opposit@ direction and this opposite rocking of rod I9 is prevented by reason of bolt member S6 being in locking position across the path of the swinging movement of keeper 58.

This device may be made as an attachment for a motor vehicle so that it can be mounted on the present parts of the vehicle or may be secured to the vehicle at the time of its original construction.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a movable hand brake operator a steering column, a rockable and endwise movable gear shift operator parallel to said column, a keeper iixed to said gear shift operator, a locking member supported on said column for holding said gear shift operator against rotary movement, means constantly urging said locking in said latter named means includes an elongated flexible member.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a locking means for connection to a -hand brake and for locking a gear shifting rod disposed parallel with a steering column, said locking means comprising a keeper, means securing said keeper on said rod, a locking bolt, means adapted to be xed relative to said column supporting said bolt for movement relative to said keeper, spring means constantly urging said bolt to released position, and means connecting said bolt with said hand brake whereby said bolt will be moved to locking position when said hand brake is moved to braking position.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said latter mentioned means includes a spring whereby said locking bolt will be placed under tension when in locking position.

5. In combination, a movable hand brake operator for a vehicle, a steering column, a gear shifting rod disposed parallel with said column, a keeper fixed to said rod, a locking bolt for engagement with said keeper for holding said rod against rotation, means fixed relative to said column movably supporting said bolt, and means connecting said bolt with said hand brake operator for effecting movement of said bolt to locking position when said hand brake operator is moved to braking position. y

6. In a vehicle having a steering column, a gear shifting rod parallel with said column, and a movable hand brake operator, a lock bolt, means supporting said bolt from said column, a keeper fixed t0 said rod in a position for engagement Vwith said bolt when the latter is moved to locking position, and means connected to said bolt and said hand brake operator for moving said bolt to locking position when said hand brake operator is moved to braking position.

7. In a Vehicle as Set forth in claim 6 including a resilient element interposed in said latter means whereby said bolt will be resiliently held in locked position.

8. A locking attachment for locking the gear shift rod mounted parallel with the steering column of a vehicle when the hand brake operator is in braking position, comprising a housing adapted to be Xed on the steering column and loosely engage about said rod, a locking bolt slidably carried by said housing and projecting laterally therefrom, a keeper adapted to be fixed to said rod in a position for engagement with said bolt when the latter is in locking position, and a exible member connecting said hand brake operator with said bolt for moving the latter to locking position when said hand brake operator is in braking position.

9. A locking attachment as set forth in claim 8 including a rock lever carried by said housing and connected to said bolt and said flexible member.

10. A locking attachment as set forth in claim 8 including a rock lever carried by said housing and connected at one end thereof to said bolt and a resilient connection between the opposite end of said lever and said exible member.

WILLIAM H.`MULLINS. WILLIAM M. GENTRY. 

